Anuradhapura A unesco world heritage site and the Capital City of the most prosperous era

Updated on February 12th, 2019

Words : Kamanthi Wickramasinghe Photos : Rushiru Tharanga

The sacred city of Anuradhapura is believed to be one of South Asia’s most evocative sites. With sprawling structures that take you back to the times of kings and queens, the history and cultural heritage is richly embedded within them. While most of them are now demarcated as places of worship, one can observe how the dagobas, pools and other structures of architectural and archeological importance have served various purposes of successive monarchies back in the day. The model city

Anuradhapura was settled by Anuradha, a follower of Prince Vijaya. It was then made the capital by King Pandukabhaya and according to historic accounts, this city was a model of planning. These accounts state that precincts have been set aside for huntsmen, scavengers and foreigners. There have been hostels, hospitals, at least one Jain chapel and cemeteries for the high and low caste people. The water system is another breathtaking and wonderful creation by the ancient kings where the tanks and reservoirs still serve the people to suffice their needs in agriculture and other purposes. One can certainly have doubts as to how technology could have been advanced at such an era but the kings proved otherwise. Today it has evolved to become a modern city with more hotels and facilities for tourists. Anuradhapura is also on the list of tourist attractions in Sri Lanka and the villagers draw an income from the existing tourism industry.